Former University of Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter talks to the Nashville area media about being drafted by the Tennessee Titans. GANNETT TENNESSEE

Sitting here thinking football in late April proves once again it is a year-round sport.

Other than the unpredictable weather, this month gave us gridiron goofs a round of college football spring games and the NFL Draft, which started Thursday and concluded Saturday in New York City.

Just like in recruiting, wouldn't you like a coach or general manager to come out after the draft and say, "This bunch of picks can't play dead in a cowboy movie. It will be a miracle if they don't get me fired in the next year or two?"

Instead, you hear they got their man with the first pick and that needs were met from all 32 teams. But three years from now, it won't seem that way, except for the few teams that make the playoffs.

And if you want to stretch that out, then look at how many players remain on the Tennessee Titans' roster from their 2006 draft. That would be zero. That hasn't been that long ago. Vaguely, I recall the Titans taking some quarterback out of Texas named Vince Young.

This time around, though, the Titans appeared to have gotten their man in Alabama guard Chance Warmack, who they selected Thursday night in the first round. They followed that up Friday night by trading up in the second round to the No. 34 overall slot to pick Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter, whose value had diminished from where it heading into last season because of an early knee injury.

If Hunter comes back completely healthy, that is a steal with that pick. Moreover, it also says the Titans understand that oft-injured former first-round pick Kenny Britt is entering the final year of his contract. Meaning, if he has a good season as all hope, then he might be too expensive to re-sign. And if he doesn't, well, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Hunter's selection also marked the second season in a row the Titans surprised folks by taking a wide receiver early. Last year, they picked Baylor's Kendall Wright, and all his 65 catches did last season was lead the team and tie for the league lead among rookies.

Just by position alone, the Titans appeared to finally address the defensive side of the ball, especially considering they were last in the NFL last season in points allowed. Four of their next five picks were defensive players, including UConn cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Missouri outside linebacker Zaviar Gooden in the third round, LSU defensive end Lavar Edwards in the fifth round, and Nevada cornerback Khalid Wooten in the sixth round.

Breaking that run on defenders was the pick of California center Brian Schwenke in the fourth round. That re-emphasized the notion the Titans want to bolster the offensive line that had already seen the free agency signing of former Buffalo Bills guard Andy Levitre, considered the best at the position on the market.

Do the math: If the Titans keep all 12 free agent signings and all nine draft picks, then there will be 21 new faces on the 53-man roster this season. Talk about putting current roster members on notice.

Just how quickly Titans head coach Mike Munchak and staff can blend the new with the old will go a long way in determining if this team can turn it around from last season's 6-10 debacle.

QB Locker visiting

It is a general consensus that it is time for third-year quarterback Jake Locker to fully take the reins and finally show he is the long-term solution at the position. He has flashed, but has also been inconsistent as well, especially before and after missing five games last season because of a shoulder injury.

Furthermore, it is also time for Locker to become the face of the franchise. That is what NFL franchise quarterbacks are expected to do.

Which makes it no surprise that Locker is the lead player on the annual Titans Caravan that starts Monday and runs through May 10.

On Monday at 5:30 p.m., Locker and crew will visit Academy Sports in Smyrna at 1150 Genie Lane.

Greg Pogue is host of the morning sports talk show on 102.5 FM and locally on 97.5 FM.

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Pogue: Titans addressed needs, but is it enough?

Sitting here thinking football in late April proves once again it is a year-round sport.